Umuahia Residents Protest 500% Electricity Bill Hike

Residents of the World Bank Housing Estate in Umuahia staged a protest against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for a 500% increase in their electricity bills. The residents displayed placards with various inscriptions, calling the estimated billing "illegal and criminal." The acting president of the Residents Association, Florence Kanu, described the hike as astronomical and unprecedented, urging the EEDC to review it downward.

Kanu highlighted that the majority of residents, including civil servants, artisans, and pensioners, cannot afford the new bills. The EEDC's operational manager, Engineer Amaga, explained that the increase was due to the transfer of the estate to a new metering band, which led to higher bills based on estimation.

The residents are demanding a fair review and the provision of prepaid meters to avoid overbilling.